H.S. football preview: Coaches call area QB talent best in recent memory

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The San Antonio area has seen its share of quality quarterbacks.

From the 1970s with Lee’s Tommy Kramer to the ’80s with Holmes’ Wilbur Odom, Southwest’s Ty Detmer and Churchill’s Cody Carlson to the ’90s with New Braunfels’ Kliff Kingsbury and, most recently, Kerrville Tivy’s Johnny Manziel and Reagan’s Trevor Knight.

Time will tell, but some coaches believe the present day could be the golden era of area quarterbacks.

“Probably the best I’ve seen in a long, long time,” Stevens coach Darryl Hemphill said of the current group, which includes his signal-caller, senior Bryce Rivers, who passed for an area Class 6A best 3,372 yards in 2015.

“It’s probably at an all-time high,” Judson coach Sean McAuliffe said of the quality of area quarterbacks.

Five on that list have committed to FBS schools.

“When you get an offer as a junior, especially for a quarterback, it’s really neat,” Hemphill said. “You can relax and play football and not try to press it too much. Relax and play, and get better every day.”

The group doesn’t include former Reagan standout Kellen Mond, who elected to transfer to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior season after being the Rattlers’ starter for two years. Mond is committed to Texas A&M.

Somerset junior Zadock Dinkelmann, grandson of Bulldogs coach Sonny Detmer, committed to LSU when he was in eighth grade but has yet to play a varsity down. Dinkelmann was expected to be the starter last year, but he missed the season with a foot injury.

So why has quarterback play locally improved so dramatically recently? Some coaches said summer 7-on-7 football is a big factor. Targeting rules that prevent defensive backs from laying dangerous hits on receivers is another reason.

Because of the popularity of the spread offense, coaches are searching for quarterbacks who can serve as running threats because the lanes are bigger. As defenses try to stop the run, quarterbacks can hurt them with the pass.

In recruiting vernacular, such players are called “dual-threat” quarterbacks.

“We’re taking advantage of a kid who, 20 years ago, may have been a running back,” McAuliffe said. “It’s an evolution of the game. At the next level, you see athletic kids playing that position. There’s really good coaching taking place in San Antonio right now.”

New QB prototype

High School

Perhaps no one in the area embodies a dual-threat QB more than Harris, a senior who rushed for 2,712 yards and 38 touchdowns and passed for 2,013 and 17 touchdowns en route to being named the Express-News Offensive Player of the Year in 2015.

Although Harris, a UTSA commit, had more yards rushing than passing a season ago, he possesses an accurate arm and is a nightmare to defend.

“I don’t think you shut down Frank,” Steele coach Scott Lehnhoff said. “He reminds me a lot of Johnny Manziel. He has eyes in the back of his head. It’s like he’s at full speed and everybody else is in slow motion. The main thing with Frank — you have to have gap discipline. Once he gets a crease, it’s over.”

Quality quarterbacks also tend to be intelligent and natural leaders.

“Those (attributes) are just as important as a 40 time and ability to throw the football,” McAuliffe said.

Four quarterbacks on the list compete in District 27-6A. It’s no coincidence all four teams qualified for the playoffs last season.

“It’s really exciting,” said Martin, who has committed to Texas Tech. “All of us went to the playoffs last year. Each game, you have to work hard for. It’s not going to be a stroll in the park.”

Williams enters his junior season with two years of varsity experience. The Rockets advanced to the state semifinals in both seasons. As good as Williams has been, McAuliffe said he is just now fully grasping the Rockets’ system.

“First and foremost, he’s finally comfortable in that role,” McAuliffe said. “It was thrust upon him (as a freshman). Last year, he got us back to where we were and maybe a play or two from playing for the whole thing. His knowledge and grasp of the offense is light years ahead of where it was two years ago. The scary thing for other people is this kid has another year. No telling how good he can be.”

Martin stepped into the starting role last season following the graduation of LG Williams, who guided the Knights to the state semifinals two years ago. Lehnhoff wasn’t exactly sold on Martin being Williams’ successor two years ago.

“He’s always been such a great athlete and had the physical tools that were obvious,” Lehnhoff said. “He didn’t do anything pretty as a sophomore.”

However, that changed when Martin shined during drills the following spring. The reason was simple: Martin relentlessly worked on his footwork and passing release.

“I was just following LG’s footsteps,” Martin said. “I trained hard and tried to be more of a leader.”

Adkins, a New Mexico State pledge, enters his third season as the Rangers’ starter. He passed for 3,038 yards and 28 touchdowns in leading Smithson Valley to a 10-4 record and a fourth-round appearance in the playoffs.

“Our district has at least four quarterbacks who are as good as anyone around,” Lehnhoff said.

Even with Mond’s absence, District 26-6A is not short on standout quarterbacks.

Vitt passed for 3,135 yards and 32 touchdowns in his first season as a starter, earning him Express-News Newcomer of the Year honors. Carroll, who committed to New Mexico over the summer, fits the mold of the dual-threat quarterback with 1,381 rushing yards and 1,038 passing.

“I think we have exceptional quarterback talent in the area,” Harris said.